§4.16.1Germanico bello confecto multis de causis Caesar statuit sibi Rhenum esse transeundum; quarum illa fuit iustissima quod, cum videret Germanos tam facile impelli ut in Galliam venirent, suis quoque rebus eos timere voluit, cum intellegerent et posse et audere populi Romani exercitum Rhenum transire.
After the German war was finished, Caesar decided that he must cross the Rhine for many reasons; among which the most just was that, when he saw that the Germans were so easily induced to come into Gaul, he wished them also to fear for their own possessions, when they understood that the army of the Roman people both had the power and the courage to cross the Rhine.
§4.16.2Accessit etiam quod illa pars equitatus Usipetum et Tencterorum, quam supra commemoravi praedandi frumentandique causa Mosam transisse neque proelio interfuisse, post fugam suorum se trans Rhenum in fines Sugambrorum receperat seque cum his coniunxerat.
To this was added also the fact that that part of the cavalry of the Usipetes and Tencteri, which I have mentioned above as having crossed the Meuse for the purpose of plundering and foraging, and not having been present at the battle, had, after the flight of their people, retreated across the Rhine into the territories of the Sugambri and united themselves with them.
§4.16.3Ad quos cum Caesar nuntios misisset, qui postularent eos qui sibi Galliae bellum intulissent sibi dederent, responderunt: §4.16.4populi Romani imperium Rhenum finire; si se invito Germanos in Galliam transire non aequum existimaret, cur sui quicquam esse imperii aut potestatis trans Rhenum postularet?
When Caesar had sent messengers to them to demand that they should deliver up to him those who had made war upon him and Gaul, they replied: that the empire of the Roman people was bounded by the Rhine; if he did not think it right for the Germans to cross into Gaul against his will, why did he demand that there should be any of his rule or power across the Rhine?
§4.16.5Ubii autem, qui uni ex Transrhenanis ad Caesarem legatos miserant, amicitiam fecerant, obsides dederant, magnopere orabant ut sibi auxilium ferret, quod graviter ab Suebis premerentur; §4.16.6vel, si id facere occupationibus rei publicae prohiberetur, exercitum modo Rhenum transportaret: id sibi ad auxilium spemque reliqui temporis satis futurum.
But the Ubii, who alone of those beyond the Rhine had sent ambassadors to Caesar, made a treaty of friendship, and given hostages, earnestly entreated him to bring them assistance, because they were grievously oppressed by the Suebi; or, if he were prevented from doing so by the occupations of the state, that he would only transport his army across the Rhine; that this would be sufficient for their assistance and hope for the future.
§4.16.7Tantum esse nomen atque opinionem eius exercitus Ariovisto pulso et hoc novissimo proelio facto etiam ad ultimas Germanorum nationes, uti opinione et amicitia populi Romani tuti esse possint.
that so great was the name and reputation of his army, after Ariovistus had been defeated and this most recent battle fought, even among the most remote nations of the Germans, that they could be safe through the prestige and friendship of the Roman people.
§4.16.8Navium magnam copiam ad transportandum exercitum pollicebantur.
They promised a large number of ships for transporting the army.